Description

About Explore Schools:
Explore Schools is a network of four community charter schools, proudly serving the Flatbush and Crown Heights communities providing 1,800 students with an excellent education. Our mission is to provide our students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college-preparatory high school. Nearly 100% of our students attend college-preparatory high schools with graduation rates that exceed 85%. We are deeply committed to working with and retaining all of our students and building strong partnerships with our families.

What We Believe:
• We believe that all children can learn when immersed in a rich environment full of high expectations, rigorous academics, and caring, committed adults.

• It is both our privilege and responsibility to help close the opportunity gap in the Central Brooklyn community by increasing the high school graduation rate by 10%.

• Equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive – we can meet the needs of all the students in our schools, while actively engaging parents and driving toward excellent academic results

About the Position:
Explore Schools is seeking an experienced, inspirational education leader who demonstrates a drive toward excellence and is passionate about serving all students. The Executive Director will leverage a robust leadership team to meet ambitious goals, build a unified, high-performing team culture and actively engage families and the community. The ideal candidate values academic achievement and strong relationships with parents equally. He/She is a dynamic people leader who believes and invests in developing talent, while possessing a strong understanding of academic rigor and effective instruction. The Executive Director reports to the network’s Chief Executive Officer and directly manages three Academic Directors, Director of Culture, Director of Operations and the Support Services team.

Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Community Engagement:
• Create the systems and practices to support a strong culture of high-achievement for staff and students.
• Ensure fidelity of all students and staff to Explore’s mission, vision and core values.
• Develop systems and practices to actively invest and build relationships with families and community stakeholders
• In collaboration with the leadership team, identify academic priorities, set measurable goals to achieve priorities and monitor progress toward goals
• Directly manage and evaluate members of the leadership team against annual goals, effectively leveraging strengths and identifying and supporting areas of development
Academics & Instruction:
• In collaboration with the instruction team, define instructional approach and adopt school curriculum that is aligned to state standards.
• Oversee the efforts to assess effectiveness of curriculum and collaboratively lead implementation of changes.
• Lead the development systems, practices, and cycles of assessment and the constant use of data to drive student performance
• Support Academic Directors to ensure instructional practices and lesson plans are effective and aligned with school-wide achievement priorities; and teachers’ professional development goals are being met through direct, targeted coaching
• Ensure effective creation and implementation of support services to meet individual students’ academic needs.
Student Culture & School Policy:
• Lead the creation and execution a school-wide schedule that maximizes time aligned to academic priorities and teacher collaboration.
• Partner with the Director of Culture to create and ensure enforcement of a school-wide discipline policy and devise structures and incentives for students to internalize and celebrate achievement of academic goals.
• Partner with the instructional leaders to assess professional development needs and execute on a differentiated approach to meet those needs
• Implement school-wide procedures and policies to ensure student safety.

Qualifications:
• Dedication to our mission. A steadfast commitment to ensuring our students have the tools they need to attend a college preparatory high school and beyond, while
• Determination. A willingness to make things happen and a sense of urgency around closing the achievement gap.
• Strong communication. The ability to communicate in a direct and sensitive fashion with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Team player. A desire to work in a team-oriented environment and collaborate with colleagues.
• Growth mindset. An ability to receive frequent feedback with humility and a strong desire to grow and develop as an educator.
• Reflective attitude. An ability to constantly reflect on student data as well as personal areas of strength and growth.
• Flexibility. Willingness to work in an ever-changing field and face challenges with a positive attitude.
• Professional integrity. A personal alignment with the values and ethical standards of Explore Schools.
• Outstanding people leader with passion for developing team members
• Passionate relationship builder who actively engages and builds relationships with families, staff and students
• Experience working in urban, underserved communities
• Demonstrated achievement of exceptional results with students and successful management of a team of adults
• Five years of instructional experience, including at least 2 years in school administration preferred
• A master’s degree and administrative certification, preferred